“No other game combines the wonder of nature with the discipline of sport in such carefully planned ways. A great golf course both frees and challenges a golfer’s mind.” ~Tom Watson. Designing unique, enjoyable, yet challenging golf courses is almost an art in itself. With a goal to be challenging enough for national championships, yet also good for everyday play, it is not often a golf club can accomplish both. One such course exists right here in Carver County- Hazeltine National Golf Club.
Hazeltine National Golf Club is located in Chaska, MN, and is considered by many the best private golf club in Minnesota. This course was the dream of Totton P. Heffelfinger, a former president of the United States Golf Association (USGA). The mission was to “build and maintain a golf course suitable for the conduct of national championships, [with the support of] a membership that supported this concept – a membership that felt a responsibility to the game of golf and its rules and traditions.” This club was different from other golf clubs in that it was not a country club- no pools, no tennis, only golf.
The course at Hazeltine was designed by well-known architect Robert Trent Jones. Jones became known as the “Open Doctor” for his work upgrading courses to host the U.S. Open. Over the course of his career, Jones redid or created over 600 courses, and was famous for challenging the abilities of golfers. Jones began work on Hazeltine in 1959, with the club and course opening to the public in 1962. In the 21st century, the course consists of 186 acres with an additional 134 acres for future expansion.
The first championship to be hosted at Hazeltine National Golf Club was the 1966 U.S. Women’s Open. Then, the 1970 U.S. Open was hosted there, and Hazeltine’s credibility as a championship course was threatened. The extreme difficulty of the course and the effect of a very windy first days pushed scores higher and higher. Nationally ranked players were extremely annoyed. Among the most vocal critics of the course was Dave Hill, who famously described the course as “eighty acres of corn and a few cows. They mined a good farm when they built this course.”
This criticism spurred many changes to the layout of the course. First made by Robert Trent Jones prior to the 1983 U.S. Senior Open, and again prior to the 1991 U.S. Open by Jones’ son, Rees Jones. From being listed in Golf magazine’s “10 Worst championship Venues”, it is now listed by the same magazine as one of the “Top 100 Courses in the U.S.”
Over the years since its founding, Hazeltine has hosted more championship’s than any other club around 50 years old. Among those championships are:
- 1966 U.S. Women’s Open Championship
- 1970 U.S. Open Championship
- 1977 U.S. Women’s Open Championship
- 1983 U.S. Senior Open Championship
- 1991 U.S. Open Championship
- 1994 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship
- 1999 NCAA Division I Men’s Championship
- 2001 USGA Men’s State Team Championship
- 2002 PGA Championship
- 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship
- 2009 PGA Championship
- 2016 Ryder Cup Matches
According to Hazeltine’s website, by 2016, the Club will be one of only two in the United States to have hosted every championship offered by the USGA and the PGA of America.
Since its founding, the Hazeltine National Golf Club has overcome many challenges to maintain its national reputation. From severe criticism to rave reviews, the Club has maintained its spirit of challenge and innovation, setting new standards for the majors of golf. It is a gem in Carver County, bringing our small area to international attention.
Brakke, Tom. “Hazeltine National Golf Club.” Professional Golf Association website. Accessed August 1, 2014. http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2009/course/
Francisco, Mollee. “Hazeltine Celebrates 50th Anniversary.” Chaska Herald, September 6, 2012. http://www.chaskaherald.com/news/activities/hazeltine-celebrates-th-anniversary/article_1e0cbdf3-9a14-55ce-bb61-a8414b53c66b.html
Golf website. “Worst Major Championship Venues.” Accessed August 4, 2014. http://www.golf.com/photos/worst-golf-courses-host-major-championships/hazeltine-national-golf-club
Hazeltine National Golf Club Website. “Hazeltine History.” Accessed August 1, 2014. http://hazeltinenational.com/golf/golf-at-hazeltine/history/
“Hazeltine National’s Hisotry Enables Club to Host Major Events.” Chanhassen Villager, August 2, 1990.
